X VS. Y: Toaster ovens vs. microwave ovens
Toaster ovens
Cooking ability: Can cook most things a regular oven can cook, limited only by the smaller size of the toaster oven. Particularly good for anything in finger-form, whether it be chicken, fish, or vegetable.
Safety: Danger of a fire starting if the food is left baking too long, or if crumbs and food debris fall onto the heater.
Energy usage: A 1,250 watt toaster oven will use two to 15 kilowatt hours per month on average. That translates into less than $1.50 per month.
Price: Between $30 and $120.
Transform-ability: Not many cool powers to attribute to this Transformer. Grill and heater could however combine to make a great face, glowing eyes and all.
Microwave ovens
Cooking ability: Can't bake or broil, but very useful for reheating leftovers as well as for making a microwave dinner in under five minutes.
Safety: Will superheat certain liquids so that they go beyond their boiling point without actually boiling. This results in heated liquid and vapour exploding in your hands once the liquid's container is disturbed.
Energy usage: Uses about half the energy of a conventional oven, and gets the job done faster.
Price: Between $50 and $120. Some of the higher-end microwaves that include options like convection heating and sensor-timed cooking can go for over $600.
Tranform-ability: Microwave radiation and a part called a Magnetron. Need we say more?
WINNER: Microwaves
It's a tough call, but as most apartments come with an oven and the life of a student is one of rushing around, the slightly more expensive, energy-efficient, fast-cooking microwave comes out on top. Microwave transform and roll out!
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